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Junior Wins Computer Chess, Fritz Crashes Out

Posted by simoniker on from the herbie-upset dept.

bryan writes "'Junior' has regained the title of best computer chess program for 2004. Deep Junior previously drew Gary Kasparov 3-3 last year. From chessbase.com: 'Two programs went into the final round with equal scores: title defender Shredder and the home team of Junior. Interestingly it was another Israeli program that brought Junior the overall victory: Falcon held Shredder to a draw, while Junior demolished ParSOS.'" But, more interestingly: "The other favourite in the field, Fritz, did not have a good tournament. In round three it lost a very promising position against Falcon on time, when the computer froze and the operator did not notice this soon enough."

27 comments

  1. Deep Junior? by tyoob · · Score: 1

    I'm not too keen on their naming conventions. Why not just "AntiKasparovBot 2004" for this year's entry, which can be easily updated to reflect the model for following years?

    It'll happen, just as soon as Microsoft buys IBM, mark my words ;)

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    1. Re:Deep Junior? by Siener · · Score: 4, Informative

      The naming convention these days is that a multi-processor version of a chess program gets "Deep" added to its name.

      E.g. Fritz - Deep Fritz and Junior - Deep Junior

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    2. Re:Deep Junior? by Luigi30 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And it's a reference to Deep Thought. If you don't know what Deep Thought is, there's no helping you :)

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    3. Re:Deep Junior? by MonkeyCookie · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I wonder if the origin of the "Deep" naming convention was Deep Thought, the computer from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

    4. Re:Deep Junior? by drivers · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yes. There was a chess computer called Deep Thought and named after the computer in Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It was a predecessor / renamed to Deep Blue (built by IBM, hence the Blue). I imagine any "Deep" chess name after that was inspired by Deep Thought / Deep Blue.

    5. Re:Deep Junior? by nacturation · · Score: 1

      The naming convention these days is that a multi-processor version of a chess program gets "Deep" added to its name.

      Now we need only wait for the "Shit" chess program to come along.

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    6. Re:Deep Junior? by MonkeyCookie · · Score: 1

      Thanks for that tidbit of information. I wasn't aware there was a predecessor to Deep Blue.

  2. And when junior won... by netvoid · · Score: 0

    he commented..."A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess? "

    1. Re:And when junior won... by hunterx11 · · Score: 1

      The only winning move is not to play? Surely you mean Sämisch - Nimzowitsch?

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      English is easier said than done.
  3. OPerator error? by lacrymology.com · · Score: 2, Funny

    "when the computer froze and the operator did not notice this soon enough"

    What was he doing?!? Were there too many chess groupies around to distract him from the job?
    -m

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    1. Re:OPerator error? by magefile · · Score: 1

      My guess is, they forgot to put a twirling baton or something on the box, so he assumed it was still processing.

    2. Re:OPerator error? by AltaMannen · · Score: 1

      "when the computer froze and the operator did not notice this soon enough"

      Wait... they are allowing operators in what is basically an AI competition between machines? AI non-self-recoverable crash => game loss, no exceptions! I'd still prefer to see an all AI battlebots game though.

    3. Re:OPerator error? by nacturation · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wait... they are allowing operators in what is basically an AI competition between machines? AI non-self-recoverable crash => game loss, no exceptions!

      As long as the operator isn't making suggestions, I don't see a problem with that. It would be like Kasparov having a guy whose sole job is to elbow him in the ribs if he falls asleep during a game.

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    4. Re:OPerator error? by Ayaress · · Score: 1

      The operators are most likely just go-betweens. I'd be very suprised if all these AIs could interface with each other cleanly, so what they would do is have each operator manually input the moves made by the other computer.

    5. Re:OPerator error? by Dr+Tall · · Score: 1

      Right, and unless the operator is a chess champion, he probably won't have a better suggestion than the computer. Unless he's getting paid to throw the match...

  4. Crafty by chill · · Score: 2, Informative

    The open source Crafty tied for 4th out of a field of 14. It placed 2nd in the speed chess competition, losing only one game.

    Not a bad showing at all.

    -charles

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  5. Obligatory remark [sorry in advance] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Fritz is on the fritz.

  6. chess programs crashing by CaptnMArk · · Score: 2, Funny

    What is it about chess programs and crashing.

    I remember playing against OS/2 chess program (I play crap), and it worked fine while I was losing, but when I managed to get into a winning situation the program crashed.

    I guess it didn't take defeat well.

    1. Re:chess programs crashing by Ayaress · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I made a chess program in my freshman year. Horribly programmed, I have to admit, so probably doesn't relate well to these computers (and these aren't 486's either). When it's in a good position, it would usually find more good moves to make, and took less time to make a move. If it was in a bad position, most of the moves it would test turn out to be pretty bad, so it has to test more moves. All the moves it tested were stored. I only had a meg of RAM to draw on, and once in a while (usually when it was in a position where any move either resulted in stalemate or checkmate), it would run out of memory and freeze. Gave it a definite "sore loser" feel.

  7. "unless he's getting paid to throw the match..." by mbessey · · Score: 1

    ...because we all know what a big betting sport Computer Chess is, right?

    right?

    >